BellBoy
Obama racist? Then Bush is Hitler.
Premium
join:2001-02-20
Los Angeles, CA
clubs:
 ·Pacific Bell - SBC
1 edit |  [mini] What should I do?
I was just given a 1.25 GHz G4 mini from a friend of mine who's selling his business and liquidating everything. It's pretty much stock--no BT or APE--with no RAM upgrades (that I know of as I have yet to boot it).
I checked online and the thing was purchased a year and a month ago--so no APP is possible. Arghh. 
Should I keep this thing or sell it? I don't really have a need for such a low power machine (compared to the new mini anyway). With the Intel minis out there now I'm not even sure if it's worth that much anymore. Any (constructive) thoughts on possible uses for this thing?
Edit: I guess I should add that I have a HD projection screen TV, HD (DirecTV) TiVo, and a pretty good Pioneer AV receiver if that helps with the suggestions. |
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thorgod
I've modeled explosions, BIG explosions
join:2001-07-30
Las Vegas, NV | A hacked up media machine.
Kid's computer.
Computer for the car.
'Project Box' - aka a stage for many frankenmac experiments.
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-The Dude. |
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HiVolt
29
Premium
join:2000-12-28
Toronto, ON
clubs:
·TekSavvy Solutions..
·Bell Sympatico
| reply to BellBoy
said by BellBoy  :Edit: I guess I should add that I have a HD projection screen TV, HD (DirecTV) TiVo, and a pretty good Pioneer AV receiver if that helps with the suggestions. I have my Mac mini G4 1.42/1GB hooked up to my 42" Sony HDTV (Rear Projection LCD) via DVI cable and it makes for a great web surfing, media watching, and frontrow experience. Resolution is 1280x720 on my TV, and it looks pretty good.
I am going to replace it with an Intel mini in the future, but for now its still alright.
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BellBoy
Obama racist? Then Bush is Hitler.
Premium
join:2001-02-20
Los Angeles, CA
clubs:
·Pacific Bell - SBC
| said by HiVolt :said by BellBoy :Edit: I guess I should add that I have a HD projection screen TV, HD (DirecTV) TiVo, and a pretty good Pioneer AV receiver if that helps with the suggestions. I have my Mac mini G4 1.42/1GB hooked up to my 42" Sony HDTV (Rear Projection LCD) via DVI cable and it makes for a great web surfing, media watching, and frontrow experience. Resolution is 1280x720 on my TV, and it looks pretty good. I am going to replace it with an Intel mini in the future, but for now its still alright. I'd love to do that but I'm not sure if my Mitsubishi TV can handle the DVI...I have the TiVo going through the HDMI (?) cable. Have you had any problems getting the resolutions straight on the TV?
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"When the day comes that anyone can bend our country's laws and lawmakers to serve selfish, competitive ends, that day democratic government dies." -- Preston Tucker, June 1948 |
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bbarrera
Premium,MVM
join:2000-10-23
Sacramento, CA
clubs: | reply to BellBoy
I bought mine over a year ago and use it as a home server. This guys website has nice front-ends for mail, dns, etc.
»cutedgesystems.com/ |
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HiVolt
29
Premium
join:2000-12-28
Toronto, ON
clubs:
·TekSavvy Solutions..
·Bell Sympatico
2 edits | reply to BellBoy
said by BellBoy :I'd love to do that but I'm not sure if my Mitsubishi TV can handle the DVI...I have the TiVo going through the HDMI (?) cable. Have you had any problems getting the resolutions straight on the TV? Does your TV only have one HDMI input? If it does, you might need a switchbox. But HDMI is just DVI with audio carried in the same cable, in a different plug. There are DVI-to-HDMI converters out there, so there's no worry.
Edit: you said you have a pretty good receiver, if its new enough it may also have HDMI switching capability.
Some DVI-to-HDMI adapters here
»www.ramelectronics.net/html/DVI-···apt.html
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wakko
I Blame Duhbya
join:2000-02-05
Sterling, VA | reply to BellBoy
Install OSX server and use it as your router/firewall/nas device/dns/dhcp/mail/web/etc all in one type device... That's what I did with my G4 mini when I upgraded to a intel mini.
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"Does this rag smell like cloroform to you?" |
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BellBoy
Obama racist? Then Bush is Hitler.
Premium
join:2001-02-20
Los Angeles, CA
clubs:
·Pacific Bell - SBC
| reply to HiVolt
said by HiVolt :Edit: you said you have a pretty good receiver, if its new enough it may also have HDMI switching capability. It's good, but not that good. I think I spent about $600 on it last year and the DVI/HDMI boxes were going for about/over $1k.
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"When the day comes that anyone can bend our country's laws and lawmakers to serve selfish, competitive ends, that day democratic government dies." -- Preston Tucker, June 1948 |
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Kevin83165
join:2002-03-31
Herrin, IL | reply to BellBoy
How about sell the mini to me. I will pay you cash  .
I love Minis! |
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ftzsee
Premium
join:2001-11-22
clubs:
| reply to wakko
said by wakko :Install OSX server and use it as your router/firewall/nas device/dns/dhcp/mail/web/etc all in one type device... That's what I did with my G4 mini when I upgraded to a intel mini. Agreed, on everything but the OS X part. Why not install FreeBSD or Linux and learn a bit in the process? |
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BellBoy
Obama racist? Then Bush is Hitler.
Premium
join:2001-02-20
Los Angeles, CA
clubs:
·Pacific Bell - SBC
1 edit | reply to BellBoy
I'd kinda like to hook it up to my TV, but I don't know if I want to pop for a DVI cable when it doesn't work. I've heard some stories about the Mac's DVI (DVI-D isn't it?) not being compatible with the DVI used in AV kit.
Anyone have any links or info to verify/dispute?
Edit: It doesn't have BT or APP, so I was thinking of popping for that and a gig of RAM first--although when I wiped the drive and re-installed the factory image (Panther) it seemed okay with 256 megs (I just wasn't giving it much of a workout though). |
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HiVolt
29
Premium
join:2000-12-28
Toronto, ON
clubs:
·TekSavvy Solutions..
·Bell Sympatico
| Well my mini works great with my Sony TV. Its a few years old and it doesnt have HDMI only DVI. It has an overscan problem, but the mini's video options have an uncheck overscan option and it fixes it. Its too bad it doesnt have BT, but you can just get a RF wireless keyboard/Mouse and prob solved. I wouldnt bother selling it, I bet you wont get much for it, given its the lowest end G4 mini.
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BellBoy
Obama racist? Then Bush is Hitler.
Premium
join:2001-02-20
Los Angeles, CA
clubs:
·Pacific Bell - SBC
| reply to BellBoy
Update...
Thought I'd post an update as I was able to pick up some cables and adapters over the weekend to see if I could get this to work.
I picked up a good quality S-vid cable (as well as a DVI cable) at Best Buy and the Apple adapter as well as a BT Apple KB at the Apple Store. I have the BT500 mouse that I use with my 17" so I'll wait on a new BT mouse for now.
What I've found: the mini with the DVI to S-video adapter that Apple makes for $19 is worth it. It gives me a good picture with the mini's res set to 1024x768 with the "good for video" setting turned on. I wish it were better, but whaddya gonna do?
I say that because the DVI cable was beautiful. The picture was pretty damn sharp--not like a 30", but very do-able. However...two major problems arose. The overscan problem reared it's ugly head and I didn't know what I needed to do to correct it without screwing up my picture for everything else I use it for. The other problem is that I totally forgot that my HD TiVo uses the only DVI port on my TV with a DVI-HDMI cable. So unless I want to get behind my TV every time I wanted to use the mini...uh, no.
Epilogue: At least I can return the $100+ DVI cable I won't need anymore. And it's not all bad...I was able to get the mini on the net, I watched some iTMS vids that looked just as good on my TV as my non-HD sat channels. The only bummer is I have to figure out a way to bump up the system fonts so my eyes don't bleed and I can view most of a web page without scrolling for five minutes.
I know it's no fancy-schmancy Windblows Media Center, but does anyone have any other ideas about what I can do with my TiVo or any other apps that would make this more than just another Mac with a (slightly blurry) big screen?
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"When the day comes that anyone can bend our country's laws and lawmakers to serve selfish, competitive ends, that day democratic government dies." -- Preston Tucker, June 1948 |
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acadiel
Keep trying - don't give up
Premium
join:2002-06-22
Bloomington, IL
 ·Comcast
·DSL EXTREME
| reply to HiVolt
Re: [mini] What should I do?
I just ordered one from monoprice.com here: »www.monoprice.com/products/produ···2&style=
It works pretty darn well for $5. |
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